MARCUS HARRIS-NOBLE speaks with the group
ICM’s ground-breaking project for Ipswich’ young men celebrates its one year anniversary this month.
“I felt lost… no idea what to do with my life or who to turn to… but this project has given me a safe space to explore”
Emulate participant
The Origins
● It began with a conversation in St Stephen’s church
● Ramon who’s one of the project facilitators approached me with a challenge
● Having finished college he felt lost and missed the structure and routine to provide direction and purpose
● He recognised there was a problem and he wanted to do something about it
● Over the next few months we developed The Emulate Project
● Ramon has just been accepted into Brighton University to study music production
“When I saw this project advertised… it only took me a moment to realise why on earth didn’t this exist already” - Emulate participant
Project Overview
● We describe it as an urban campfire… a space for sharing stories, discussing difficult issues, celebrating and building culture together
● We refer to it as a brave space… an environment that challenges us to critically think about ourselves, others and the world around us… to learn and grow in healthy ways…
● Every Monday evening during term time, we meet up for 2 hours at the Smokehouse, South Street
● It’s a creative venue… where we listen to music, watch media, host conversations, invite local role models to speak and participate in workshops and local events
Project Headlines
● We’ve delivered 41 sessions
● We’ve delivered 91 hours of life changing interactions
● 92% of participants report improved wellbeing
● We’ve helped 22 participants
● 10 local organisations have supported our project
We’ve hosted some amazing and diverse guests (24) including:
EMILE AUGUSTUS-BROOKS, GARETH PATCH, ELIJAH TURAY, NATHANIEL CLARKSON, DAN SOMERS, BEN DRIVER, TONY MOORCROFT, JAMES KINDRED, MARCUS HARRIS-NOBLE, BOO DENDY, ED NGAI, SAM ROBSON, JADE MARIE ANDERSON, TOM ISON, PAUL SAMUELS, JULIEN MERY, CARNELL COOK, MARK STRAW, RAMON BRADSHAW LOGAN, IAN DANCE,
KANE COMMODORE… thank you, we couldn’t do this without your generous time and willingness to share experiences
WE’VE SUPPORTED YOUNG PEOPLE TO…
○ GET INTO UNIVERSITY
○ GO THROUGH COLLEGE
○ FIND & CHANGE WORK
○ PRODUCE & RELEASE MUSIC
○ DEVELOP HEALTHY HABITS
○ WORK THROUGH RELATIONSHIP DIFFICULTIES
○ TACKLE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES
○ DISCUSS POLARISING TOPICS
○ RE-SOCIALISE AFTER COVID
○ HOST EVENTS
○ JOIN SPORTS TEAMS
Our young men want to talk and no topic is off limits… we support them to discuss whatever is on their minds… from politics and war to mental illness and social media to relationships and the meaning of music.
Emulate Project is a space for reflection, peer to peer learning and intergenerational collaboration
“I really look forward to Monday evenings and seeing where our groups conversation takes us”
Emulate participant
Support This Project
We created this project with the help of Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Community Foundation. We would like to continue this work and build upon what we’ve started.
We’re looking for funding from April onwards and if you would like fund, donate, or sponsor Emulate please drop us a message at bmiller@ipswichcm.org.uk – we’d love to hear from you.
If you would like to support as a guest speaker or supporting organisation we would also like to speak with you.
Finally, if you know a young man in Ipswich between the ages of 16-25 who would benefit from being part of a group, please send them our way.
An Emulate Campire Conversation
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